Cattle-guard.



Nt). 815,379. v PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906.

F. 0. & G. A. RICHTER.

CATTLE GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lnventorsx edadzzer mm1-'amar Attorheys Witnesses Gusawl Attorneys NTEDSTATES" PATENT CEEICE. i

FRED oTTo RICHTER AND CUsTAv ADoLPII RICHTER, or BUCKHoLTs,

' TEXAS. l Y

CATTLE-GUARD.

I @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that we, FRED OTTO RICHTER and GUsTAv ADODPII RICHTER,Citizens of the United States, residing at Buckholt's, inv the county ofMilam and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Cattle-Guard,of which the following is a specification.l

This invention relates to cattle-guards, and has for an object toprovide a device of the class embodying new and improved features ofreliability, utility, and efliciency. f

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists inthek combination Vand arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fullydescribed, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointedout in the appended claims, it being underving the gears 18 18 vanyapproved number and stood that changes in the form, proportion,

size, and minor details may be made Without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvedcattle-guard with the gate raised by an animal shown thereon in dottedlines. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the o erating mechanism with theplatforms slilown in dottedy lines and the rails broken away. AFig.v 3is a' transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing thegate raised and in dotted lines the position of the parts with the gatedepressed.

Like characters of reference indicate corre-y sponding drawings.

In its preferred embodiment the improved cat tle-guard forming thesubject-matter of this application is carried upon a pair of beams 10,engaging stationary abutments 11 11, whichform cross-ties for thesupport of rails 12 12 and, With the cross-tie13, carpartsin all of thegures of the ried on the beams 10 10, support the rails in-f termediatethe abutments. To, the beams adjacent their ends are secured cross-bars14 and 15 and a third cross-bar 1 6,spaced from the bar 14. Between andto the cross-bars 14 and 15 are'journaled the shafts 17 17 extendingparallel with the beams 1() 10 and carryrigidly thereon between the bars14 and 16. Rigidly secured to the shafts 17 17 are the c'urved levers 1919 in wardly above the beams 10 10 and' `beneath Specification ofLetters Patent.

extending out- Patented March ao, 1906.

the rails 12 12 To cause the shafts 17 17 and the gears 18 18 to movesimultaneouslyV and oppositely when any one ofthe levers `19 -55 19 isdepressed, the gears are connected by the links 20 20', pivotallyconnected to and eX- tending from the upper .side of each gear to thelower side of the other. Engaging the gears 18 18 are the pinons 21 21,mounted" 6o upon shafts 22 22, journaled on the crossbars 14 and 16 andhaving crank-arms 23 23 extending beyond the bar 14 and toward theabutment 1 1".

To the abutment 11 are secured the ver- 65 tical guides 24 24, whereinis mounted to slide vertically a gate 25, provided-With slots 26 26embracing the beams 10 10 and the rails 12 12. The crank-arms 23 23 areconnected with the gate by means of the links 7o 27 27, pivoted to thegate, as by the pins 28 28.

Upon the levers 19 19 are supported the platforms 29 29 between thebeams `10 10 and the rails 12 12" and connected, if pre 75 ferred, by acleat', as 30. The cross-tie 13 may be provided with shoulders 31 31toengage the cleat 3() and prevent a displacement of the platforms. Theplatforms -may be further secured by hooked members 32, se- '8o cured tothe under sides thereof and engaging beneath the beams 10 10. To coverthe gearing, a plank 33 may be secured beneath i the rails and adjacentthe gate.

In Figs. and 3 the gate is shown in a raised 8 5 position and theassociated parts in the positions assumed when the gate is at the eX-treme of its upward movement. When the weight is removed fromtheplatforms, the weight of the gate forcesv the crank-arms 9o 23 23downward, as indicated by thearrows, thereby rotating the pinons 21 21the gears 18 18, and the levers 19 19, as indicated by their respectivearrows, and to the-positions indicated in dotted lines and raising theplatforms 29 29 to the level of the 'cross-ties 1 1 1 1 and 13, leavingthe track unobstructed and the platforms inposition to be depressed.

It is evident'that an application of a weight to the platforms will movethe parts in reverse order and raise vthe ate.

As the levers 19 are al rigidly secured to one shaft and the levers 19to the other and as the rotary movementof one shaft moves the platformand a vertically-slidable gate operatively connected with the arms andmovable to operative position When the platform is depressed.

2. The combination with a railway-track, of a depressible platformdisposed beneath the same, shafts extending longitudinally of the track,laterally-projecting arms secured to the shafts and bearing against thebotto-m of the platform, and a vertically-slidable gate operativelyconnected with the shafts and movable to operative position when theplatform is depressed.

3. The combination with a railway-track, of a depressible platform,shafts disposed beneath the latform and provided with gear- Wheels,linls connecting said gear-wheels,lat erally-extending arms secured tothe shafts and bearing against the bottom of the platform, avertically-slidable gate, and pinions meshing with the gear-Wheels andoperatively connected with the gate for moving the latter to operativeposition when the platform is depressed.

4:. The combination with a railway-track, of a depressible platform,shafts extending longitudinally of the track and provided with gearWheels, laterally extending arms secured to the shafts and adapted tobear against the bottom of the platform, pinionsmeshing with thegear-wheels, a verticallyslidable gate, and crank-arms carried by thepinions and pivotally connected with the gate for moving the latter tooperative position When the platform is depressed.

5. The combination with a railway-track, of supporting-beams extendinglongitudinally of the track, transverse braces connecting thelongitudinal beams, shafts journaled in the braces and provided withgear -wheels, a depressible platform, laterally-extending arms securedto the shafts and bearing against the bottom of the platform, avertically-slidable gate, links pivoted to one side of the gate, andpinions meshing with the gearwheels and provided with crank-arms theends of which are pivotally connected to the links for movingr the gateto operative position when the platform is depressed.

6. The combination with a railway-track, of the cross-ties some of whichare provided with recesses, a depressible platform disposed between thecross-ties, and a vertically-slidable gate operatively connected withthe platform and movable to operative position when the latter isdepressed, the upward movement of the platform being limited byengagement with the walls of said recesses.

7. In a cattle-guard, a vertically-sliding gate, angularly-m ovable armsconnected with and to move the gate, shafts rotatably mounted, gearsconnecting the shafts and arms and whereby a rotary movement of theshafts moves the arms, levers rigidly mounted upon the shafts, and aplatform so mounted upon the levers that a weight thereon rotatablymoves the shaft.

8. The combination with a railway-gate, of shafts extendinglongitudinally of the track and provided with spaced gear-wheelsconnected by diagonally-disposed links, laterally-extending arms securedto the shafts, a depressible platform supported by said arms, and avertically slidable gate operatively connected to the gate and movableto operative position when the platform is depressed.

9. The combination with a railw:ty-track, of the cross-ties, verticalguides secured to the ends of one of the cross-ties, a gate mounted forvertical movement between said guides, a depressible platform, shaftsextended longitudinally of the track and provided with spaced gearwheels connected by diagonal braces arms extending laterally from theshafts and bearing against the bottom of the platform, and pinionsmeshing with the gearwheels and provided with crank-arms operativelyconnected with the gate for moving the latter to operative position whenthe platform is depressed.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaffixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED OTTO RICHTER. GUSTAV ADOLPH RICHTER l/Vitnesses:

W. R. NEWTON,

E. C. Jol-ILE.

